I simply must insist that you watch this 11-minute “episode” of Chris Elliott’s latest production, “Eagleheart,” and comment.
http://video.adultswim.com/eagleheart/blues.html
Dec 212013
Dec 202013
How did I miss this Ann and Nancy Wilson tribute to Led Zeppelin at the band’s Presidential Medal of Honor ceremony, or whatever that thing is called?
Oh, I remember now: I didn’t think it was right that our United States President was taking time out of his work on behalf of our nation (not to mention, I presume, our taxpayer dollars) to honor an English band that made a living off, in part, ripping off the works of American blues musicians. I love Led Zeppelin and don’t actually care too much about any of that stuff, but I honestly felt myself thinking that that honor should only be reserved for American artists. I’m not usually prone to such thoughts!
Anyhow, how did I miss this? It’s spectacular on so many Rock Town Hall levels. The performance features—SPOILER ALERT—amazing shots of audience members pondering the significance of what they’re watching, meaningful looks, the First Couple, video footage of a dove, a horn section, not one but TWO robed choirs, David Letterman as a member of Led Zeppelin, and Lenny Kravitz, not to mention BOTH Wilson sisters!
I need to watch this about 10 more times to study the reflective, pondering faces on the surviving members of Led Zeppelin and other dignitaries in attendance. Perhaps you will choose to watch along with me and report on what you can read.
I look forward to your thoughts.
Dec 182013
While driving and listening to the amazing “Paperback Writer” b/w “Rain” single over the weekend, and a frequent thought entered my mind: If Paul McCartney never wrote a song and never opened his mouth to sing, he’d still go down in rock history as one of the genre’s greatest bass players.
I didn’t stop there. “God spared nothing when he put together Paul McCartney,” I blurted out to my wife, who did not object but who braced herself for the nerdy pontificating to follow. Wisely I kept my next set of thoughts to myself, especially as my mind raced toward dreaded (for her and surely some of you) sports analogies.
Paul McCartney is one of rock’s 5-tool musicians! I silently declared to myself, adapting the baseball term for players who can hit for average, hit for power, and who possess speed, fielding ability, and a strong throwing arm. It was really wise of me to keep these thoughts to myself during our pleasant Sunday drive. As you sit in the passenger seat of Rock Town Hall, I will not grant you a reprieve from my latest venture into sports-rock thinking.
In musical terms, a 5-tool musician like McCartney possesses well above-average skills in the following areas:
- Singing
- Writing songs
- Writing hit songs
- Playing an instrument at a high level
- Looking good.
I doubt many musicians possess all 5 of these tools. Being honest (ie, not bringing my personal tastes into this), Sting is the only other musician who comes to mind as fulfilling these criteria. I’m sure I’m missing some other obvious 5-tool musicians. I guess Prince is another musician who fits this bill, despite my not personally digging his music or his Look.
Despite the musical riches that McCartney was granted, while watching a Philadelphia 76ers-Brooklyn Nets game on TV the other night, it was clear that the Lord left Paul wanting in some areas. I wish I could find a clip of him dancing and pointing to himself on the big screen at Brooklyn’s arena, but this “can’t always get what you want” moment will have to do:
Dec 172013
Tonight at 9:00 pm EST, Tom Scharpling, Jon Wurster, and their fully engaged band of listeners/participants will deliver the last episode of The Best Show on WFMU. I’ll leave it to others to describe the show’s free-form chatter format. I will miss it. You can listen to the live stream online, here. Hopefully The Best Show on WFMU archives will stay active. There are still episodes I need to catch up on. Thanks for many years of laughter.
Dec 142013
Sounds of the hall in roughly 33 1/3 minutes!
Episode 121 features a newcomer to the Hall’s of Rock: Robo Rock 2000! This hard-rocking cat is sure to be the talk of the town. Listen now!
SNSI Episode 121: She Plays Yoyo With My Mind
[Note: You can add Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your iTunes by clicking here. The Rock Town Hall feed will enable you to easily download Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your digital music player.]
Dec 122013
Steve Winwood’s surprising late-career muttonchops.
I believe I noted, a month or two ago, in my thoughts on a PBS documentary on Jimi Hendrix, that I was floored by modern-day Steve Winwood’s muttonchops, which appeared alongside his few seconds of commentary. Of all musicians who prospered during the hippie era, Winwood was probably only second to Joni Mitchell in keeping a clean-shaven face. Although he kept his locks flowing, culturing a forelock in a nearly Veronica Lake fashion, I don’t recall ever seeing Winwood with facial hair in the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, or anytime during his solo career. Are Winwood’s Golden Years Muttonchops, in their natural gray state, the most surprising late-career Look addition in rock?
Dec 112013
Jam on it. Nice and easy. Backstage style.
